New Research Highlights Top Nonprofits Advancing Equal Rights for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community

Mon, Jan 14, 2013 16:15 EST

As the Giving Season Heats Up, Donors Are Urged to Research before They Give

Washington, DC—
Philanthropedia
, a division of leading nonprofit information provider
GuideStar
, today announced new rankings of the
top 12 nonprofits
advancing the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals and supporting the issues that the LGBT community tackles – including discriminatory policies, violence against members of the community, and improving the health and well-being of those in the community – at the local level, and the
top 19 nonprofits
working in the same field nationally. The rankings are based on in-depth surveys and conversations with hundreds of experts, including academics, funders, grantmakers, policy makers, consultants, etc.

“It’s not just important to support charities but to support the
best
charities,” said
Erinn Andrews
, GuideStar’s senior director of nonprofit strategy and the original chief operating officer of Philanthropedia. “We know that finding the nonprofits that are really having an impact can be daunting. Our rankings bring together the best thinking in any one cause area and provide an easy-to-use resource for those looking to donate to or otherwise sustain the important work of charities in that cause area.”

The struggle to end discrimination against LGBT people has spurred action across the globe for more than two decades, captured national headlines, and become an issue in the U.S. political scene. Fewer than a third of all U.S. states have laws protecting people from discrimination based on sexual orientation, and only a handful prohibit discrimination based on a person’s gender identity or expression. There are no federal protections for LGBT civil rights. According to
USA Today
, a
recent study
by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs found that hate incidents against LGBT people and HIV-affected persons increased 13 percent from 2009 to 2010, and murders of LGBT people during that period numbered 27, the second-highest total recorded. A variety of nonprofits organizations focus on social equality among the LGBT community and support the community as a whole.

“If you care about LGBT issues, our top experts have highlighted the nonprofits making the most gains for the community,” added Andrews. “Make sure you give with your head as well as your heart when you support nonprofits working in this field.”

Over the past two months, Philanthropedia surveyed 110 experts working in the field of LGBT, with an average of 13 years of work experience in the field, to identify the organizations that were making the biggest positive impact on a local and national level. Experts were asked to recommend up to four nonprofits making significant contributions in LGBT equality and support on the national level and up to three nonprofits making a significant contribution at the state and local level. Experts were encourage to consider a range of nonprofits, including those working in policy and advocacy, research, public education, legal support, health and human services, community centers, social organizations, and more. The recommended nonprofits cover a wide range of issue areas within the cause, including health, marriage and family recognition, youth, elder support, transgender equality, anti-discrimination, and racial and economic justice.

Local High-Impact LGBT Nonprofits

These experts reviewed 103 organizations and identified 12 as performing the best when it comes to meeting their missions on a local level:

Philanthropedia,
www.myphilanthropedia.org
, is an online resource for donors who want to make a bigger difference with their charitable giving. Philanthropedia was founded on the belief that experts working in the field, such as foundation professionals, researchers, and nonprofit senior staff, are best suited to evaluate nonprofits in a more holistic way. In April 2011, Philanthropedia was acquired by GuideStar.

About GuideStar

GuideStar,
www.guidestar.org
, connects people and organizations with information on the programs and finances of more than 1.8 million IRS-recognized nonprofits. GuideStar serves a wide audience inside and outside the nonprofit sector, including individual donors, nonprofit leaders, grantmakers, government officials, academic researchers, and the media.

About Us

GuideStar, www.guidestar.org, connects people and organizations with information on the programs, finances, and impact of more than 1.8 million IRS-recognized nonprofits. GuideStar serves a wide audience inside and outside the nonprofit sector, including individual donors, nonprofit leaders, grantmakers, government officials, academic researchers, and the media.

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Quick facts

Philanthropedia announced new rankings of the top 12 nonprofits advancing the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals and supporting the issues that the LGBT community tackles – including discriminatory policies, violence against members of the community, and improving the health and well-being of those in the community – at the local level, and the top 19 nonprofits working in the same field nationally. Tweet this
The rankings are based on in-depth surveys and conversations with hundreds of experts, including academics, funders, grantmakers, policy makers, consultants, etc. Tweet this

Quotes

It’s not just important to support charities but to support the best charities.

Erinn Andrews, GuideStar’s senior director of nonprofit strategy

Our rankings bring together the best thinking in any one cause area and provide an easy-to-use resource for those looking to donate to or otherwise sustain the important work of charities in that cause area.